Utility bag



v. BLAKE UTILITY BAG Jan. 4, 1944.

Filed June 18, 1943 Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE n UTILITY BAG Virginia Blake, Miami Beach, Fla. .I Application June 18, 1943, Serial No. 491,283

(Cl. 19o-41) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to general utility bags and, without limitation, more particularly to a irameless or otherwise non-rigid, collapsible and foldable bag structure.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a practical, non-rigid, general utility bag, constructed of duck, canvas, other textile fabric, or any desirable flexible material, which is readily collapsed to a flattened condition and either folded or rolled neatly into a compact form when not in use; but, in use, is of considerable packing capacity, as well as neat and pleasing in outward appearance.

The principal object is to provide a simple yet very practical and efficient closure for the opening of the bag, in protection of the contents in such a way as to obviate the necessity for using any fastening devices for the closure.

With the foregoing objects in view the invention consists primarily in forming the bag with a relatively narrow, slitted opening and providing a comparatively small, outside iiap, extending from one side of the opening and adapted to overlap and amply cover the opening when the bag is in use, but, more importantly, also an inner ilap of considerable size, extending from the opposite side of the opening and adapted to be tucked in across the opening and spread smoothly and neatly down between the contents and the overlying bag wall portion for a distance, preferably, at least approximately one-half the extent of the entire bag wall.

An illustrative but non-limiting adaptation of the invention is hereinafter described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bag;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the bag;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in perspective and partly in cross-section, showing more clearly the details of structure and the flap members opened outside of the bag; and,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the bag showing the flaps ln closed position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral I designates the body portion of the bag, which, as shown, is of substantially cylindrical form. This is the form in which the bag is generally made, although it may be made in other shapes. In the illustrated structure the bag comprises circular end panels I I, to the annular margins of which are stitched or otherwise secured the side marginal portions of an originally rectangular sheet of material constituting the annular body wall of the bag.

The bag, as above formed, has a narrow slitted opening I2 (see Fig. 3) that extends from end to end of the bag. That is to say, when the body` fabric at opposite sides of the opening is stretched taut longitudinally of the bag the opening is re pressure of the hands when placing articles, ap-

parel or material in and removing the same from' the bag.

When the bag is Well iilled the contents hold it' distended substantially to its designed shape with the opening I2 in close-sided relation. Thus, if l the lled or partially filled bag is suspended from' a pair of looped strap handles or flexible carrier members I3, which extend under and are there stitched or otherwise secured firmly to the bag, the contents will remain intact as placed within the bag. However, in order to cover the opening I2 and protect the contents of the bag, an inside flap I4 is provided as an extension from the annular bag Wall at one longitudinal side of the elongated, slitted opening I2, this llap being of substantial size sufficient to not only amply cover the opening I2 but to extend a considerable distance on the inside of the bag wall beyond said opening, preferably at least approximately onehalf the entire extent of the annular bag wall (see Fig. 4).

Prior to filling the bag, the ilap I4 is withdrawn from within to the outside of the bag as shown in Fig. 3. After the bag is lled the flap is tucked in across the opening I2 and spread smoothly and neatly down against the adjacent annular wall portion of the bag (see Fig. 4) and between said bag wall portion and the contents of the bag. This not only retains the contents intact in the bag, but the contents are well protected from the outside atmospheric elements and other extraneous matter that might otherwise enter through the slitted opening I2 of the bag.

In order to supplement the protection afforded the contents of the bag by said flap I4, there is provided an outer flap I5 of lesser size, just sumciently to amply cover the opening I2 and extend a short distance on the outside of the bag beyond the opening. This outer flap I5 has its ornamental as well as protective effect in the bag structure. So, too, by the provision of the inner protective flap I4 of larger proportions, it is unnecessary to provide the outer nap I5 with closure fasteners, thus making for economy in manufacture, as well as practicability and eiciency in the utilitarian advantages of the structure in its use.

The ap portions I4 and l5 may be provided either as separate pieces of material and attached by stitching or other securing means, or they may be provided as integral extensions of the bag body material. So, too, While the invention is applicable more particularly to a non-rigid, collapsible and foldable bag structure, Vit is not limited thereto, as the inner protective flap, either the opening and extended from the'bo'dy wallwof the bag at one longitudinal side ofjsaid opening and adapted to be tucked in across' the opening and spread down over the contents ofV the bag and against the overlying bag wall to an extent sufficiently to hold itk in' place, the' body Wall of' the' bag at the opposite longitudinal side of said opening ofthe bag being of a shapeadapte'd to overlie and cover the opening.` 4

2.` In a utility bag having a body walljwithan elongated, narrow opening, an'innerv closure-flap of a widthv equal to substantially the length of the opening and extended from the body wall of the bag at one longitudinal side of said opening and adapted to be tucked in across the opening and spread down over the contents of the bag and against the overlying bag Wall to an extent suiiciently to hold it in place, and an outside closure-nap extended from the body Wall of the bag at the opposite longitudinal side of said opening of Ithe bag, said outside closure-,nap being adapted to'V cove'r the opening. and overlap the outside ofthe body wallfor' some distance beyond said opening. y

3. The bag structure as set forth in claim 1, andthe extent of inner closure-flap placement within the bag being equal to at least approximately one-half of the entire extent of the entire bag Wau- 4. In a utility bag having a body wall with an elongated, narrow opening, an inner closure-nap of relatively large size extended from the body Wall of the bag a'ton'ei longitudinal sideof said opening and'.L adapted to be" tucked ifi' across, tlief opening and spreadv down over the' .oontentsofi the bagl and against they overlying bag A wall throughout' a substantial extentof the'. latter, and' a relatively smaller `outside closure-.nap extended fromv the; body Wall Vof4 the' bagat' theopposlte" longitudinalside ofsaid opening of the bag; said,y

outside closureLflap being adapted to coverA ,the

opening. VIRGINIA BLAKE. 

